Latch for folding tables



:inventor HARRY E. LENZ SR.

HIS Gttorneg Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE LATCH FOR FOLDING TABLES Harry E. Lenz, Sr., Dayton, Ohio Application July 27, 1948, Serial No. 40,860

(Cl. Sil-87) Claims.

This invention relates to novel folding tables, counters, or benches, and latching mechanism for maintaining them in set-up position.

The object of the invention is to provide a` novel table, counter', or bench, o the class which is of rugged construction, which is used at intervals, and which must be folded for storage purposes until its next use.

An object of the invention is to provide a` folding table, counter, or bench of such a construction that a minimum of space is required for its storage.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a sturdy latch mechanism to hold the table, counter, or bench in its setmup position in such a manner that accidental collapse of the table is prevented.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a latch for a folding table, counter, orbcnch having a pivoted latch pawl provided With a recess opening into which a projection oi? the same dimension snugly ts.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention includes certain novel features oi construction and combinations oi parts, a preferred forni or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view oi a typical. counter, table, or bench in setmp position.

Fig. 2 is a iront elevation of the table shown in Fig. l, in its folded position.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one part of the part General description The invention disclosed herein relates to folding tables, counters, or benches of rugged construction and of the type used for display purposes, which must be heavy to carry the Weights which they are intended to support. These ta bles are also usually comparatively long and may be six feet or more in length. These tables, counters, or benches usually provided for this 2 purpose are used at intervals and must be stored between uses. To store a number of such tables, counters, or benches having such large dimensions requires considerable storage space unless they can be folded to compact unit. One of the principal objections to folding,f tables, counters, or benches of this rugged and size has been that no suitable means has been provided for firmly and safely holding them in set-up position, ready for use. i

Applicant avoids the above-named objections by providing a table of novel and substantial construction and by also providing latches that are sturdy and that Will not accidentally become unlatched, with the consequent collapseof the table. i

The counters disclosed herein are provided with end panels, each of which includes two legs, and which panels fold under the counter top. The front, back, or both front and back of the table are provided With an apron of the size equalling the thickness of the legs when folded under the top. To the lower edge of the apron is hinged a folding panel which reaches almost to the floor when in set-up position, leaving only toe space below the panel. The folding panel extends endwise to extend over the legs at both ends of the counter. A latch is provided at each end of the folding panel near its bottoni for maximum strength. Eac latch consists of two parts, one part being recessed in a leg oi the counter to bring its face level. with the `surface of the leg. The part recessed in the leg oi the counter has a pivoted latch pawl with a carn edge at its free end. The pawl is spring-urged toward the outer face of the leg and is provided with a counterbored recess ofthe size to snugly receive the head of a stud carried by a second part of the latch. l'She studwcarrying part of the latch is recessed into the inner Wall of the hinged panel and so located thereon that, when the panel is moved into its set-up position, the stud comes into contact with the cam on the free end of the latch paw-.land rocks the pawl around its pivot against the action of a pavvl spring. When the stud registers with the counterbored recess, the pawl snaps thereover and holds the panel and the legs in set-up position. The studand-recess construction is such that the latch cannot accidentally come open.

A release knob is supplied to release `the latch when it is desired to fold the counter preparatory to storing it away for further use. The release `knob is so constructed that considerable force is latching is prevented. As an added precaution, the release latch is recessed into the panel, so that it will not be contacted by accident.

Detailed description As illustrated in Fig. l, the counter is provided with a top I and four legs I I. For stability, each pair of end legs II may be connected by a panel to form a rigid end for each end of the counter. Each leg- II vis hinged to the underside of the top I0 by a hinge I2. The hinges I2 lare so located that, when the legs I I are folded under a top, the side of the leg lies flush with the under side fof the table, as shown in Fig. 2. An apron I.3 is provided beneath the top I0, which apron extends downwardly a distance equal to the width of .a leg II, so that, when the legs I I are folded under the table, the outer edge of the leg I I will come flush with the bottom edge of the apron. A vpanel I4 is provided with hinges I5, by means of which Athe panel is connected to the lower edge of the apron I3. When lthe legs I I are folded under the table top IU, the panel Ill can be folded against the outer sides of the legs II, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, when the table is folded, ready for storage,

the spaceoccupied lthereby is equal to the thickness of a leg II plus the thickness of the top l0 and the panel I4. Any number or the folded tables-may be stacked in 'a convenient stack, using a minimum of space.

A latch plate I6 `(Figs. 5, 6, and '7) having two ears I'I, in which a spring-actuated latch pawl I3 is pivoted, is provided on each of the legs I I near their lower ends. Each leg I I is recessed, as

shown in Fig. '7, so that the latch plate It will lie flush with the surface of the leg when attached thereto. The latch plate I3 is attached to the recess of the leg II -by four screws, holes I9 to receive the screws being provided therefor. A spring '2U normally maintains the free end of the latch I8 `in contact withthe Ainner surface of the latch plate I6.

The hinged panel I-l is provided with a latch plate 2| (Figs. 3, 4, and 7) which plate is recessed into the panel so that its outer surface cornes flush with the inner wall of the panel I4. Four openings 22 are provided for securing the latch plate 2| firmly in position ,in the recess of the panel I4. A stud 23, having an enlarged head, is

`secured to the latch plate 2 I.

When attached to the plate 2 I, the headed stud 23 forms an annular groove 2t, which is of a `dimension to-pass into anotched portion 25 of the vplate I6.

The head of the stud 23 passes over the surface ofthe latch plate I6 and into a circular recess in the under side of the latch pawl I8, thus latching the two members I6 and 2I firmly together. A cam edge26, formed on the free end of .the latch pawl I8, provides a means for camming the latch pawl outwardly when the head of the stud 23 passes therebeneath. To set up the counter, or table, the panel I4 is raised until the leg II is free to be moved. When the leg II is moved far enough for the cam edge 26 to contact the head vof the stud 23, the latch pawl I8 is cammed outwardly, thus permitting the stud 23 to pass within the notch 25 and into the recess formed on the under side of the latch pawl I8. This operation is repeated for each leg or table end, depending upon the construction of the table, whereupon the table is held firmly in its set-'up position. When the table is set up, the

'annular ,groove "24, 'being iixed in' the notch 25, 'and the head of the stud 2 3 lying Within the recess Von the `under 'side 'of *the pawl I8, locks the leg and the panel in fixed relation. The recess formed on the under side of the pawl I8 is of such dimensions that the head of the stud 23 fits snugly therein, thus preventing any end play between the two latch members. In this manner, the set-up table is held in firm position.

To release the latch I8 when it is desired to fold up the table, a plunger 30 (Figs. 4 and 5) is slidably mounted in the latch plate 2I. The plunger 30 fits in a recess 3l in the panel I4. The outer face of the plunger 30 is located flush or substantially flush with the outer face of the panel I4, so that the plunger cannot be accidentally moved to release the latch I8. The plunger 3U is slidably mounted in the plate 2I and is held in its `outer position by a spring 32 Wound around a stem ,33 thereof. The inner end. of the stem 33 is provided with a collar 34, normally heldin a recess in the latch plate 2i by the spring 32. rlhe inner surface of the collar 34 lies adjacent the inner surface of the latch plate I6, and, when the latch is in latching position, the inner surface of the collar 34 lies adjacent the free end of the latch pawl I8. When it is desired to release the latch pawl I8, the plunger 30 is forced inwardly against the action of the spring 32, whereupon the collar 34, engaging the free end of the pawl I8, rocks the pawl I3 around its pivot and against the tension of the spring 20 until the recess in the pawl I8 is free of the head of the stud 23, whereupon the leg II can be moved inwardly on its hinge I2.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects `primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a latch device for a folding table, the combination of a first latch member; a stud on the first latch member, said stud having an enlarged head and a reduced portion forming an annular groove on the stud; a second latch member; a notch formed in the second latch member to receive the reduced portion of the stud; a latch pawl pivoted on the second latch member; a recess formed in the latch pawl of a diameter and depth the same size as the size of said head, and arranged to engage the said head when the reduced portion of the stud is positioned in the notch; and a spring to maintain the recess of the latch pawl in engagement with said head when the latch members are in coincident positions.

2. In a latch device for a folding table, the combination of a rst latch member; a stud on the first latch member, said stud having an enlarged head and a reduced portion forming an annular groove on the stud; a second latch member; a notch formed in the second latch member to receive the reduced portion of the stud; a latch pawl pivoted on the second latch member; a recess formed in the latch pawl of a diameter and depth the same size as the size of said head and arranged to engage said head when the reduced portion of the stud is positioned in the notch; a spring to maintain the recess of the latch pawl in engagement with said head when the latch members are in coincident positions; anda release member carried by the first-named latch member to release the latch pawl.

3. In a latch device for a folding table, the combination of a first latch member; a stud on the rst latch member, said stud having an enlarged head and a reduced portion forming an annular groove on the stud; a second latch member; a notch formed in the second latch member to receive the reduced portion of the stud; a latch pawl pivoted on the second latch member; a recess formed in the latch paWl of a diameter and depth the same size as the head and arranged to engage said head when the reduced portion of the stud is positioned in the notch; a cam edge on the free end of the latch pawl adapted to coact With said enlarged head to facilitate the engagement of the recess with said head; and a spring to maintain the recess in engagement with said head when thelatch members are in coincidental positions.

4. In a latch device for a folding table, the combination of a rst latch member; a stud on the first latch member; said stud having an enlarged head and a reduced portion forming an annular groove on the stud; a second latch member; a notch formed in the second latch member to receive the reduced portion of the stud; a latch paWl pivoted on the second latch member; a recess formed in the latch pawl of a diameter and depth the same size as the diameter and depth of said head and arranged to engage said head When the reduced portion is positioned in the notch; a spring acting to maintain the recess of the pav/l in engagement with said enlarged head when the latch members are in coincident positions; and a manipulative device coacting with the free end of the latch pawl when the latch pawl is in latching position to rotate the latch paWl against the action of said spring to release the pavvl from said head.

5. In a latch device for a folding table, the combination of a rst latch member; a stud on the latch member, said stud having an enlarged head and a reduced portion forming an annular groove on the stud; a second latch member; a notch formed in the second latch member to receive the reduced portion of the stud; a latch pawl pivoted on the second latch member; a spring normally maintaining the latch pawl in latching position; a recess formed in the latch pawl of a diameter and depth the same size as the diameter and depth of said head, and arranged to engage said head when the reduced portion of the Stud is positioned in the notch; a manipulative device coacting with the free end of the latch paWl When the latch pawl is in latching position to facilitate the releasing of the pawl from said head; and a spring to return the manipulative device to its normal position after the latch pavvl has been released from the head.

HARRY E. LENZ, SR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,333 Sargent Feb. 13, 1883 285,995 Gesking Oct. 2, 1883 1,073,482 Ford Sept. 16, 1913 1,133,254 Backus Mar. 9:0, 1915 1,185,422 Mammelli May 90, 1916 1,504,371 Ormerod Aug. 12, 1924 1,923,281 Smith Aug. 22, 1933 2,463,082 Brown Mar. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,971 Great Britain l 1899 393,495 France Dec. 23, 1908 364,515 Great Britain Jan. 7, 1932 

